Patent GB-1152040-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Machines for Washing Kegs, Casks and Similar Containers
Inventor: HIRD JACK
IPC: B08B9/08
Filed: 1967-03-02
Abstract: 1,152,040. Washing casks; endless conveyers. DAWSON BROS. Ltd. 22 March, 1968 [2 March, 1967], No. 9832/67. Headings B8A and B8T. A machine for washing kegs and similar containers comprises a conveyer 48 moving unidirectionally in stepwise fashion through a washing section 20 comprising one or more rotary jet assemblies (120), Fig. 5 (not shown), from which washing liquids are sprayed on the interior of the kegs and which are raised into the kegs during the dwell period of each step. Kegs 26 are introduced by a continuously moving conveyer (42), Fig. 2 (not shown), through a checking station 28 and a keg inverter 30 to the washing section 20 and pass from the latter to another inverter 32. Kegs are released from the checking station 28 only if a probe (64), Fig. 3 (not shown), introduced into the container is unobstructed, thereby operating valve (66) which causes the probe to return to its initial position so that valve (68) is operated, allowing the stop device (58), Fig. 2 (not shown), to release the keg, when valve (70) is operated, and resetting stop (58) and probe (64) for the next keg. This stop drive allows kegs with lids to be removed. Probe (64) is next actuated when cam (52) actuates valve (56). Inverting containers.-The initial and final inverting stations 30 and 32 are similar, driven intermittently in synchronism only during the dwell period of the conveyer, by a weighted chain 80 from a crank 82. Each inverter comprises a keg cradle (not shown) attached to a shaft 96, Fig. 4, driven by a ratchet wheel 104 and pawl 100, the wheel 104 being connected by a shear pin 106 to a flange 102 on a hub 94 which is keyed to shaft 96. Should pin 106 fracture, if a keg is not completely inverted, ratchet wheel 104 and cam disc 115 are urged to the right by springs 114 in bores 108 in the wheel 104, thus actuating switch 116 by arm 118, cutting the drive to chain 80. A brake holds the craft stationary during a non-driving stroke of the pawl. Washing.-The washing jets, Fig. 6 (not shown), which rotate through 180 degrees and back again are driven by a motor (132), Fig. 5 (not shown), through the reciprocating bar (130) and are arranged on beams (122). They are spaced apart by the distance the kegs are stepped forward during the drive of the conveyer, so that each keg may be treated by a variety of liquids from the jets in turn. Beam (122) is raised vertically during the conveyer dwell period by connecting rod (124) and levers (128). The supply of liquid to the jets is controlled by pneumatically operated valves (160-164), Fig. 7 (not shown). Valves (160- 163) are controlled by a solenoid valve (165) actuated by limit switches (166, 168) operated by cams on the conveyer so that liquid is issued from the jets only during the dwell period. Valve (164) is controlled by a mechanically actuated valve (176), opened only when there is a keg at the appropriate station. Conveyer.-The main conveyer 48 consists of two parallel endless chains, supported in horizontal guide rails. Pairs of pusher blocks on flat upper surfaces of these chains are spaced equidistantly apart to receive the kegs, the spacing corresponding to the spacing of the washing jets. The conveyer is driven by a motor (180), Figs. 8, 9 (not shown), through a V-belt (182), a clutch brake unit (184) and a shaft (186) which is connected to a gear-box (190). One output of the gear-box has a crank arm (192) transmitting an intermittent drive to the conveyer through a weighted chain (194) and a ratchet arrangement identical to that driving the inverter mechanisms. The motor is fitted with a variable speed pulley (206) controlled by a hand wheel (208) which enables the output of the machine to be increased or decreased and the duration of the washing processes to be varied.